Ornamental ring

ABSTRACT

An ornamental ring for being worn on an appendage of a person includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface joins the outer surface and is threaded to facilitate insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally directed to an ornamental ring and, more specifically, an ornamental ring that is configured to facilitate insertion onto and removal from an appendage.

[0002] Various prior art jewelry rings have been adjustable, expandable and openable to facilitate insertion onto and removal from a digit, e.g., a finger of a person. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,858 is directed to an openable ring that can be worn as an article of jewelry about a portion of a body. The openable ring includes first and second arcuate sections that are pivotally interconnected at one end for permitting pivotal movement of the arcuate sections between open and closed positions and latching members for connecting the arcuate sections. An adjustable ring is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,437. One version of the adjustable ring includes a ring shank having first and second arcuate elements that are pivotally interconnected, with each arcuate element including an interior groove to receive slider members connected to an ornamental ring top and first and second interconnecting arms for connecting the ornamental ring top to the first and second arcuate elements. Unfortunately, the rings disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,136,858 and 4,697,437 include numerous intricate parts, which must be manufactured, require assembly and may be prone to breakage, which generally increases the cost of rings so designed.

[0003] While, the prior art discloses various rings that facilitate insertion onto and removal from a digit, these rings include multiple parts, which increase the manufacturing and assembly cost of the ring. What is needed is a jewelry ring that facilitates insertion onto and removal from a digit of a person without increasing part count or assembly cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to an ornamental ring for being worn on an appendage of a person that includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface joins the outer surface and is threaded to facilitate insertion onto and removal from an appendage of the person. In one embodiment, the outer surface is generally cylindrical. In still another embodiment, the outer surface includes at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer surface. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ring includes an external setting that retains at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone. The external setting is attached to the outer surface and, in one embodiment, is integrally formed with the outer surface. An advantage of the present invention is that the threaded inner surface facilitates insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person without increasing part count or assembly cost.

[0005] These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornamental ring, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ornamental ring, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(s)

[0010] The present invention is directed to an ornamental ring for being worn on an appendage of a person that includes an inner surface and an outer surface that is threaded to facilitate insertion onto and removal from the appendage of a person. The present invention is particularly advantageous in the insertion and removal of a ring from a digit (e.g., a finger or a toe) when the digit expands due to weather, or the like, rendering an initial fitting imperfect or at least periodically imperfect. According to the present invention, a person can rotate the ring in one direction (e.g., clockwise) to facilitate insertion onto a digit and in another direction (e.g., counter-clockwise) to facilitate removal from the digit.

[0011]FIG. 1 depicts an ornamental ring 100 that includes an external setting 108 attached to an outer surface 102 of the ring 100. The ring 100 may be made of any suitable material, such as gold, silver, platinum and basic alloys, such as bismuth, pewter, lead or tin. As shown, the outer surface 102 also includes a channel 112 that retains one or more precious, semi-precious or artificial stones. The external setting 108 retains a stone 110 that can be a precious stone, a semi-precious stone or an artificial stone. It will be appreciated that the external setting 108 can be attached to a generally cylindrical ring structure or integrally formed with the ring structure. The ring 100 includes an inner surface 104 with a thread 106. It will be appreciated that a peak of the thread 106 is preferably rounded to prevent injuring the appendage, upon which the ring is inserted or removed. The thread 106 can be formed on the inner surface 104 through a molding technique, at the time of manufacture, or placed in the inner surface 104 after manufacture (for example, through the use of an appropriate tap). FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, along the line II-II of the ring 100 of FIG. 1, further depicting the thread 106.

[0012]FIG. 3 depicts an ornamental ring (e.g., a wedding band) 300 that is generally cylindrical in shape and includes an outer surface 302 that joins the inner surface 304 and includes a bevel 316 at an intersection of the outer surface 302 and the inner surface 304. According to the present invention, the inner surface 304 of the ring 300 includes a thread 306 that facilitates insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, along the line IV-IV of the ring 300 of FIG. 3, further depicting the thread 306 and the bevel 316. As shown in FIG. 4, the bevel 316 further facilitates insertion/removal of the ring 300 onto/from an appendage of a person.

[0013] Accordingly, an ornamental ring has been described that includes a threaded inner surface that facilitates insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person. An advantage of the present invention is that it is formed from a single part, unlike expandable and openable rings, which generally lowers manufacturing and assembly costs.

[0014] The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modification of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ornamental ring for being worn on an appendage of a person, the ring comprising: an outer surface; and an inner surface joining the outer surface, wherein the inner surface is threaded to facilitate insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person.
 2. The ring of claim 1, wherein the outer surface is generally cylindrical.
 3. The ring of claim 1, wherein the outer surface includes at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer surface.
 4. The ring of claim 1, further including: an external setting retaining at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone, wherein the external setting is attached to the outer surface.
 5. The ring of claim 4, wherein the external setting is integrally formed with the outer surface.
 6. The ring of claim 4, wherein the outer surface includes at least one of another precious stone, another semi-precious stone and another artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer surface.
 7. The ring of claim 1, wherein an intersection of the inner surface and the outer surface is beveled.
 8. An ornamental ring for being worn on an appendage of a person, the ring comprising: an outer surface; and an inner surface joining the outer surface, wherein the inner surface is threaded to facilitate insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person, and wherein an intersection of the inner surface and the outer surface is beveled.
 9. The ring of claim 8, wherein the outer surface is generally cylindrical.
 10. The ring of claim 8, wherein the outer surface includes at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer surface.
 11. The ring of claim 8, further including: an external setting retaining at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone, wherein the external setting is attached to the outer surface.
 12. The ring of claim 11, wherein the external setting is integrally formed with the outer surface.
 13. The ring of claim 11, wherein the outer surface includes at least one of another precious stone, another semi-precious stone and another artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer surface.
 14. A method for constructing an ornamental ring for being worn on an appendage of a person, the method comprising the steps of: providing an outer ring surface; and providing an inner ring surface joining the outer ring surface, wherein the inner ring surface is threaded to facilitate insertion onto and removal from an appendage of a person.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the outer ring surface is generally cylindrical.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the outer ring surface includes at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer ring surface.
 17. The method of claim 14, further including the step of: providing an external setting retaining at least one of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone and an artificial stone, wherein the external setting is attached to the outer ring surface.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the external setting is integrally formed with the outer ring surface.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the outer ring surface includes at least one of another precious stone, another semi-precious stone and another artificial stone set in a channel formed in the outer ring surface.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein an intersection of the inner ring surface and the outer ring surface is beveled. 